Long-term reactivity of lung and mediastinal lymph nodes following intratracheal instillation of sandy loam soil or Mount St. Helens volcanic ash.

The effects of Ritzville sandy loam soil and Mount St. Helens volcanic ash particles on the lung and mediastinal lymph nodes of Fischer rats were studied about 400 days after intratracheal instillation. A total of 22 or 77 mg of soil or ash was given in two or seven equally divided, consecutive, weekly intervals as a suspension in 0.5 ml saline. Significantly elevated levels of lipid-phosphorus and protein were found in lung lavages of rats given ash compared to those given soil. An enhanced histological degree of granulomatous reactivity, lipoproteinosis, fibrosis, and bronchiolar hyperplasia was seen in ash-exposed rats as compared to soil-exposed rats. Mediastinal lymph nodes of ash-exposed rats were 8-18 times larger than those of soil-exposed rats due to abundant cellular microgranuloma formation and early fibrosis. Mount St. Helens volcanic ash is apparently more biologically reactive than soil particles commonly found in eastern Washington.